LEGO RC 1:34 King Tiger Tank: Brickskrieg

Posted on 22/03/2015 by Lambert Varias

LEGO Technic master Sariel built this 9″ tall and 5″ wide remote-controlled scale model of the World War II German tank Tiger II aka King Tiger. It’s propelled by two Power Functions motors, and its turret and cannon are moveable as well.

Sariel said he challenged himself to build the smallest, fully-remote controlled and detailed model of the famous tank. He says he’s not 100% satisfied with his result, partly because he had to make some parts inaccurate to keep the tank sturdy and make room for its electronics.

Still, Sariel says that this is his most accurate tiny motorized tank yet, and it’s fun to play with to boot.

Peer Kreuger’s Metal Grudge is still my favorite LEGO tank, but this one gets bonus points for being hamster-friendly. Head to Sariel’s website for more details on the tank and his other toys.

[via Popular Mechanics]

Giant Inflatable Tank: Air Force

Posted on 02/12/2014 by Conner Flynn

If you need to build up your army on the cheap, or you know, just make it look like you have an army, just buy some inflatable tanks. The size and color scheme of these tanks give them a very realistic look. A few of these parked in your yard should show nasty neighbors that you are prepared for battle.

Of course your neighbor could build up an inflatable tank fleet just as huge and then you might have a cold war on your hands. I assume it would all end with some third faction poking holes in both sets of vehicles leaving your hopes of neighborhood domination deflated.

You can buy them for just $300(USD) each from alibaba, where you can find a wide variety of inflatable military vehicles.

The Best Fish Tank Ever. Period.

Posted on 17/10/2014 by Troy Turner

It’s called Avo and it’s the first truly self-maintaining tank! Its unique filtration system creates a balanced ecosystem where the plants, fish and bacteria work together and thrive. It’s so effective in fact, the prototype has been going strong for 18 months without a cleaning and still has healthy fish, plants and clear, clean water! Lots of extras, including a discreet heater, magnetic color-changing light, and modular plant pods make it not only the easiest for owners to care for, but the happiest place for fish! The vid is a MUST-WATCH so hit the jump!

Designer: Susan Shelley / Noux

-
Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(The Best Fish Tank Ever. Period. was originally posted on Yanko Design)

Steam-powered Tank: Steam Fortress

Posted on 01/09/2014 by Lambert Varias

A few years ago we featured I-Wei Huang aka Crab-Fu’s remote-controlled steam-powered tank. Instructables member Ian aka steamhobby is a big fan of Crab-Fu and also makes steam-powered toys in his spare time. His recent project is a nod to Crab-Fu, mixing a steampunk frame with the gritty look of tank treads.

Ian’s tank is also steam-powered and remote-controlled. It’s based on a 1/16th scale Tamiya King Tiger toy and a 3.5″ Maccsteam horizontal boiler. When the tank’s turret is activated, it simulates recoil, emits a sound effect and a yellow LED on its tip lights up.

Head to Instructables for more on how Ian made the tank.

[via Hack A Day]

Tank Gunner Stick Turned into PC Joystick: Battlestation

Posted on 21/08/2014 by Lambert Varias

So you think your Steel Battalion controller is the bees’ knees? Redditor MrTheOx would like to have a word with you. Preferably while playing a tank-based game. He repurposed a surplus gunner’s turret yoke from an M1 Abrams training simulator and turned it into a computer joystick.

The image below shows the gunner’s station inside an M1 Abrams; you can see the stick (or at least a variant of it) in the center. The American Fighting Vehicle Database also has a great image of the stick inside the M1.

MrTheOx bought the stick from BPB Surplus for $100 (USD). According to MrTheOx, the stick “rotates like a steering wheel”, while the handles “pitch up and down.” Each of the handles has two triggers and one thumb button. MrTheOx used a Teensy 3.1 board to make computers recognize the stick as a joystick and a keyboard. He ended up having a few pins to spare on the Teensy, so MrTheOx made and connected a switch panel to the Teensy for more controls.

MrTheOx says the joystick works great and that he’s used it in several games, including MechWarrior Online, War Thunder and ARMA 2. He complements it with a pair of rudder pedals and the Track IR head tracker. My favorite part about this project is that MrTheOx actually learned how to program and solder in the process of converting the stick. Aim at Imgur to see more in-progress shots of MrTheOx’s mod.

[via Reddit]

Guy Builds Motorized Tank from Amazon Boxes

Posted on 02/04/2014 by Conner Flynn

Upuaza Touryou likes to have fun with Amazon boxes. He previously built a model temple out of them. So it only makes sense that now he has built a tank. An amazing, remote controlled tank of a Type 97 Chi-Ha, which was used by the Imperial Japanese Army in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Despite only costing him 1,500 yen (~$15 USD), it took two months to complete. It has tons of nice detail and is quality made all the way. The man is a wizard with an X-Acto knife. A paper model of this quality is impressive enough, but this thing is actually remote controlled and moves around.

This is the best way ever to recycle those Amazon boxes.

[via Kotaku]

HDT Self-Driving Machine Gun: You Have 20 Seconds to Comply

Posted on 11/10/2013 by Range

Maybe you thought that self-driving vehicles were a little bit further away, but check out this prototype machine gun, that will dispatch enemies from afar, without needing anyone to drive it.

The HDT Robotics Self-Driving Machine Gun uses a M240 machine gun and it can fire at a target at almost 500 feet away. Such a robot could help clear the way for soldiers to safely enter a battlefield, assuming it’s able to tackle the terrain us puny humans can. The prototype was demonstrated for the US Army, and you’ll notice that they have it chained up “for safety purposes.” Perhaps they learned a lesson from ED-209.

It can be a scary thought, having unmanned vehicle firing at enemies. So long as they remain firmly under human control, I guess it can’t be all bad.

[via Computerworld]

Make Art, Not War with the Soviet Rumble Tank Camera

Posted on 29/09/2013 by Conner Flynn

At first glance this looks like a giant tank that must be the work of the military industrial complex. Well, it is a camera on some tank treads, but it isn’t tank-sized. It is a one-of-a-kind object called the Soviet Rumble PHU x Z*E*R*O.

It is basically a retro camera with a companion dock. The camera is fully functional Russian FED-5 35mm, and can be undocked to snap photos. As art goes, this is a pretty clever project. It is completely handmade from recycled objects. It makes me wish we had real tanks that looked like this.

It’s selling for $395(USD) over at the Four Corner Store.

[via Damn Geeky]

A Tank Bath

Posted on 27/09/2013 by Radhika Seth

The Tank is a shower system of your dreams! It includes a user interface, dial, flow meter, Wi-Fi connectivity and a latching solenoid. It fits easily into your existing shower system and supports easy adoption. In a very clever way, the Tank system makes you aware of your water conservation practices as well as those who are looped in the system. So in a very subtle way, it motivates you to be a water-saver and allows you to share your accomplishments with other like-minded people.

Tank is a Reece Bathroom Innovation Award winner.

Designer: Charles Skender

Tank Vader: The Ultimate Power in the Universe

Posted on 27/08/2013 by Conner Flynn

Darth Vader. He’s one of the best parts of the original Star Wars saga. What if you could turn him into a badass Sith tank and let him loose on your enemy?

That would be amazing. Tank Vader would just decimate whole armies and lay waste to everything in it’s path. The Vader tank is the work of Gabriel Dishaw. It is a miniature tank with the head of the Lord of the Sith riding atop it, much like Danny Trejo’s head on that turtle in Breaking Bad.

It is made from all kinds of recycled parts: a toy tank, computers, typewriters, adding machines, airplane parts and vintage model pieces.

You can buy Tank Vader from Gabriel’s site for $1000(USD). Sadly my pockets are empty or else I would consider it. It just looks amazing!